University of Brighton
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Community Health
MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Course summary and entry requirements

    Course duration Help

    Full-time: 1 year

    Part-time: 6 years

    About the course

    This is a new course, which aims to support students interested in, or working in community health, who wish to address inequality, promote social justice and positively transform community health and social care.

    It is suitable for those intending to work in community health and for those wishing to develop an operational or strategic role in community health, or to specialise in a particular area of practice. It is especially suitable for qualified community nurses, midwives, paramedics and allied health professions, and health practitioners working in community or voluntary organisations.

    The course will develop your understanding of the complex and dynamic nature of community health processes, politics and policy.

    By the end of the course you will have a critical understanding of the economic, political and ethical factors influencing the delivery of contemporary heath care in the community and the principles and politics underpinning collaborative working and how to enhance service development and change, in partnership with service users and carers.

    There are specialist routes available for students wishing to develop their education or management knowledge and skills in relation to community health.

    Typical entry requirements Help

    The entry requirements listed here are for students starting their course in 2013. Individual offers may vary

    For non-native speakers of English:
    IELTS 6.5 overall and 6.0 in writing, or equivalent.

    Students with lower scores can enter through our extended masters programme. More information can be found here - http://www.brighton.ac.uk/gphss.

    Degree and/or experience:
    Applicants should normally possess two or more of the following:
    - a good honours degree (normally first or 2:1) from a UK educational institution or equivalent recognised award from an overseas institution
    - recent professional qualifications and relevant experience, normally recognised registration or recordable qualification
    - directly relevant experience which will normally mean work that is recent (within the last five years), and has been based in health or social care, or engaged in community health-related, or voluntary sector settings. Applicants will need to demonstrate an ability to study and write at level 7.
    - a clear rationale and interest for personal and professional development in community health, and a commitment to masters level study.

    Claims for the Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (APeL) will be considered.

    If you are unable to meet the above requirements, you may be able to register for a standalone module. Students who are successful studying one module and are awarded credits may then be eligible, after consultation with the course leader, to enrol for further modules and the course.

  • Course content

    Course structure

    You choose to study for either the postgraduate diploma (PGDip) or MSc award. The PGDip is made up of six 20-credit modules and the MSc is made up of six 20-credit modules plus a dissertation.

    You normally start by taking two core modules, Collaboration in Community Health, and Culture, Health and Wellbeing, plus one research module, along with three options chosen from our Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences (GPHSS) that are relevant to your interests or role.

    For the education route, option choices must include two or three education-related modules. For the management route, options must include three management-related modules.

    Modules run at different times throughout the year. Most modules run intensively over a short period of time, but some run extensively. Teaching is mostly at our Falmer campus but some modules may also take place on one of the other university campuses and also online.

    If you wish to study for the full masters award, you then complete a dissertation (60 credits).

    There is no practice placement or a requirement to complete practice assessments.

    This course does not lead to a professional registration with a recognised professional body, nor does it offer students employment whilst studying or on completion.

    Areas of study

    Our community health course is informed by a critical public health approach. It explores the politics of community health and the theoretical underpinning of collaboration, partnerships and leadership.

    There is an emphasis on solution-focused and strengths-based approaches to community health and wellbeing - working with people to build capacity and develop assets for health. It examines the role of culture and contemporary health discourses to explore the implications of these views for collaborative working practices, and health and wellbeing.

    Other optional modules develop understandings of research, education theory and practice or management and leadership.

    Syllabus

    Core modules include:
    Collaboration in Community Health
    Culture, Community Health and Wellbeing

    Plus one research module from:
    Qualitative Research
    Taking Research Forward in Health and Social Care
    Research Theory and Practice

    Options include:
    A Critical Approach to Practising Public Health
    A Critical Approach to Capacity Building for Early Interventions
    Case Management in Health and Social Care

    Developing Expertise in Learning, Teaching and Assessment
    Design Planning and Strategic Working in Education
    Principles Of Practice-based Learning

    Critical Analysis in Decision-making
    Managing Change and Leadership
    Planning in the Public and Voluntary Sector
    Public Administration and Policy Analysis

  • Fees and costs

    The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

    The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

    What's included in the fee?

    When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

    You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

    Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

    Community Health (MSc) (Full time)  [L3BH025]
    UK/EU (Full Time)6,120 GBP
    Island Students (Full Time)7,700 GBP
    International (Full Time)11,000 GBP

  • Location

    Location Help Falmer

    Our Falmer campus is located on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the outskirts of Brighton. Approximately 7,000 students are based here.

    View campus maps and directions

    Living in Brighton

    Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.

    Social scene

    Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.

    Music event on the beach

    Arts

    The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.

    Burning the Clocks winter solstice festival

    Sports

    Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.

    Playing volleyball on the seafront

  • Career opportunities

    This course will allow you to develop your understanding of community health policy, politics and practice in the UK in statutory and non statutory health and social care settings, and will enhance the development of either operational or strategic roles in community health.

    Visit the careers service website.

Apply now for your place
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Find out more

Email nam.pg@brighton.ac.uk

 

Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences
This course is part of our Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences. The programme allows you to sign up for one module at a time and build your qualification as you go. It also gives you access to a range of interdisciplinary modules across a broad selection of health and social science subjects. Find out more

 

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